CULTURAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE: THE DIGITAL PUBLISHING LANDSCAPE

FRIDAY 24TH AUGUST

TIME: 10:00 - 13:00

VENUE: APPLETON TOWER, Theatre 4

TICKET: FREE

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The Digital Publishing Landscape

The digital publishing revolution is well under way.  Like film and music there are winners and losers.  What impact is it having on writers?  What strategies do existing and emerging publishers need to develop and thrive and survive in this new landscape.  How do authors and companies monetise their copyright to make a reasonable living and sustain a business?   

Our eclectic panel will discuss these issues in this provocative debate, challenging assumptions and highlighting new opportunities.

Speakers confirmed

Jon Kingsbury, Programme Director Creative Economy, Nesta

Jon Kingsbury is a UK digital media enthusiast who has found himself playing in the most interesting places at the most exciting times.

He is Director of the Creative Economy programme at Nesta, the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts, where he oversees a portfolio of projects that encourage the use of digital technology for public benefit. His latest project, ‘Destination Local’ aims to kick-start the UK’s nascent hyper-local media sector by commissioning a range of prototypes for next-generation public services that will engage citizens in new ways.

At Channel 4 Television in 1996 he was one of the launch team of www.channel4.com. At the BBC, Jon commissioned a wide range of online content that enabled audiences to better engage with the Corporation and with their passions.

Martin McCall, Digital Services, CPI Books

CPI is Europe's largest book printing company with revenues of €380m. Martin has been with CPI Books for six years and during that time has developed its services to beyond printing to ensure that publishers can leverage as much value as they can from their content. These services include cpibookdelivery.com, GPS and ebook content creation, delivery / ingestion and aggregation.

Ewan Morrison, Acclaimed Author

The author of six books, an appbook innovator and a fierce defender  of copyright in the digital era. He has released two books this year; Close Your Eyes and Tales From the Mall. He believes that the cultural industries of the 20th century are being superseded by the predatory practices of internet corporations and that we have to fight to save culture from becoming amateurised, pirated and free.

Leila Cruickshank, Kohl Publishing

Leila worked in editing and print production for an independent publishing company before leaving to found Kohl Publishing with Lesley-Ann Dickson in 2010. Kohl was set up in response to the growing digital publishing market, offering great writing on a variety of platforms. Kohl's first novel, Fremont, pre-launches online on 19 August.

Keith Charters, Strident Publishing

Keith is Founder and Executive Director of Strident Publishing, a successful independent publisher focused on fiction for children, teenagers and young adults.  Strident is about to convert all of its titles to digital format.  He is also the author of the LEE series of novels for ages 9+, in which capacity he presents at over 100 schools, libraries and book festivals each year.  Keith is specialist Adviser for Literature for Cultural Enterprise Office.

Moderated by

David Smith, Starter for 6 Programme Manager

David Smith is the Programme Manager for Starter for 6.  Starter for 6 is Scotland’s premier training and investment programme for new innovative creative businesses. 

Cultural Enterprise Office is Scotland’s specialist business support and development service for creative businesses and practitioners.

This event is being funded through the Interreg 1VB NWE programme's Open Innovation Project.